Despite the fact we all know it's not real, the world has become a little obsessed with reality shows like The Bachelor for their depiction of extreme human emotions and behaviour. But just what lengths shows will go to to get that behaviour on screen isn't often discussed - and that's where new satirical drama UnREAL comes in.
Inspired by a short film called Sequin Raze by Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, the series follows a young staffer named Rachel, who works for ruthless executive producer Quinn (played by the excellently fierce Constance Zimmer), of a fictional Bachelor-esque reality show called Everlasting. The drama, lies and manipulation needed to get the gold dust is often dumped on Rachel because she's good at getting people to do what she wants. But the doing what's required of her takes it toll, and the ethical line which the production walks provides plenty of fodder for the savagely funny show.
Rachel is played by Shiri Appleby, who made her break in late-90s supernatural drama Roswell, but now has a lengthy CV to her name including strong roles in ER and Girls. She was delighted to find a series that managed to be entertaining and biting, and was sold on the concept from the moment she heard about it.
"When they sent me the script they actually sent Sarah Shapiro's short Sequin Raze too, and so I watched that and I was blown away by this world I'd never seen. It was characters and situations that I'd never experienced or even really thought about.
"And I guess more than 'lifting the curtain' on reality television, I was just fascinated by the people who made these shows. Like what is their internal struggle? How do they deal with their moral conflicts, the relationships they have, the lack of self that they feel because they're trapped in this world?"